Willie Penrose (Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 307: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she will furnish the comprehensive report on the discussions which took place recently between officials of Teagasc and her Department, concerning the proposals to deal with the nitrates directive; if agreement has been reached which will facilitate the reasonable concerns of a large number of farmers, which has been expressed to her and her officials; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17487/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The implementation of the Nitrates Directive is a matter in the first instance for the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. The Minister made Regulations in December 2005 giving legal effect to Ireland's National Action Programme under the Nitrates Directive. The Regulations came into effect on 1 February, but the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government announced a brief de facto deferral of the implementation of Part 3 of the Regulations dealing with nutrient management. This was to allow time for Teagasc to submit revised scientific advice. This advice was received early in March, and shortly afterwards Teagasc representatives presented it to officials of the European Commission, whose approval would be required for any changes to the Regulation. The Commission made it clear that it would take no formal view on the Teagasc advice and that it was up to the Irish authorities to make proposals for changes to the Regulations. It also looked for some supporting documentation, which Teagasc subsequently provided. Officials of the two Departments have since met senior Teagasc personnel twice to explore both the main advice and the supplementary documentation in detail, with a view to drawing up a set of proposals that can be put to the Commission in the near future.